An ACD in a Cat’s Home

When we decided to bring a young ACD into a home ruled by three cats, we knew it would take patience and planning.

Zoe, below her Tru cuddled up with Dali, and at the bottom — the newest member of the family, Mrok.

Case No. 1 Nothing was left to chance. We thought everything through and planned the main steps.

Case No. 2 Observe how things develop and avoid acting by the book — our cats might need more time, and that’s fine. The point is not to block their natural reactions.

Case No. 3 …which, in fact, should have been Case No. 1. Our home belongs to the cats. They have lived here for 15 years. They decide. They set the rules.

Mrok trying to talk to Zoe — who seems to say, “Not woof… try meow — then maybe I’ll understand you.” ;)

And one note for everyone bringing a new puppy or kitten into a home where animals already live: Always — absolutely always — the resident animals come first. They need to feel and know that the newcomer isn’t taking away their resources, including you. 😊

So, we began with Case No. 3 — our cats were doing just fine. The “alpha” of the house was Dali — a small, almost 15-year-old Russian Blue female. A cat with a strong character and a unique protective instinct. The others were Tru — our tabby, the youngest and cleverest of the group — and Zoe, daughter of Dali’s sister.

The first meeting between Tru and Mrok without a barrier — Tru uses his own way to ease the tension, lying on his side, while Mrok curiously watches this strange “dog.” ;)

The Setup Our bedroom has two glass walls — a perfect space to introduce a new member of the household. The cats could see, smell, and hear him while feeling completely safe.

Bringing in a new animal is easier when it’s young. Little Mrok wasn’t a threat inside the feline kingdom. He wasn’t a cat, and as a puppy, he was more likely to inspire curiosity than fear. Usually, two to three weeks is enough for a gradual introduction. Still, it’s a delicate process — tension around the newcomer can quickly turn into conflict among the cats. Luckily, this time it didn’t.

The glass partition — this time Dali is isolated after surgery, with Tru and Mrok watching her from the other side. After returning from the clinic, she smelled different, and the group needed time to “get to know” her again.

The Dog — the ACD Mrok lived in the “glass room.” He watched the cats through the window, fascinated by every movement. He had grown up surrounded by animals, so this wasn’t a new situation for him. Sometimes the cats would sit just half a meter from the glass door, staring back with quiet interest. Days went by. Gradually, under full control, we started letting him out for short moments so he could explore and meet them.

Hey, want to trade that paper bag — the one that’s clearly a perfect house — for this piglet? ;)

The First Meeting with Dali A short story: one paw to the nose — and that was enough. Mrok stopped, confused, in front of a small cat calmly showing him the clearest possible message: “Stop. Don’t come closer unless I say so.” He looked at her, sat down, and quietly walked away.

It was a different kind of friendship than with Tru.  Mrok and Dali shared a bond more like teacher and student. Unlike the other two cats, Dali felt safe enough to fall asleep beside him.  They never cuddled — not in the human sense — but they showed us something far deeper:  a dog who stayed by her side until the very end, just as Dali had been with him from the very beginning.

 That was the beginning of his first real training — led not by us, but by Dali. She set the boundaries and reminded him of them twice. He never crossed them again.

It stayed that way for almost two years. When Dali’s time came to leave us, Mrok didn’t frighten her — he was gentle and aware of her weakness. He was the last one to softly lick her head before we said goodbye.

Mrok has always fascinated Tru the most — our striped cat followed the little pup everywhere, even when Mrok went out to use his grassy balcony toilet. ;)

Tru This was a different kind of friendship. From day one, Tru saw Mrok as the perfect playmate — the older cats were not interested, but Tru was three years old and ready for chaos. From the start, they managed to destroy the house together 😊.

It’s still like that today, though Dali’s illness brought tension between them — something that often happens when one animal in the group gets sick. We’re now helping them rebuild their peace, step by step. As I write this, we’re still mourning. Dali left us three weeks ago, and all of us are learning how to live in this new balance.

Little Mrok and Zoe — who clearly doesn’t share his enthusiasm for wild play.

Zoe Her mother, Dasza, was a cat who didn’t open up easily, but she was a quick hunter and an excellent observer. Zoe inherited that. She watched the strange creature that didn’t meow and moved awkwardly. She hissed at Mrok the first time she saw him, and although she still watches him closely and makes her opinion clear, we think she hasn’t said her final word yet.

We reached balance quite fast — about two months. During that time, the cats got all the care and affection they needed, always first in line.

Dali and Mrok. Our small but strong-willed cat was Mrok’s first real teacher after his mother. The tough feline school brought amazing results — Mrok respected Dali more than any other cat. Later, that shaped how he approached other dogs — those with strong characters are always his first choice.

But Mrok was growing fast, and that became its own challenge. Six months after meeting the cats, he was twice their size. He didn’t notice, but they did. A curious, loud, running ACD suddenly looked much bigger in a small flat.

Young Mrok on holiday with Tru in a small cabin in the Bieszczady Mountains — it was here that their cat-and-dog friendship truly began to grow.

We built safe upper zones for the cats but also worked hard so they wouldn’t feel excluded. The real solution was training Mrok — teaching him distance and respect. Even as he grew stronger, he always respected Dali. Zoe stayed a bit apart. The main issue was Tru — he didn’t want to give up their joint chases, but Mrok’s strength made things rougher.

Those first 18 months were demanding — balancing Mrok’s training and peaceful life for the cats wasn’t easy. We took a mountain trip — our cats always travel with us — and it went quite well. Different energy levels, but no disasters.

We don’t fully understand many of their behaviors — of course, we tend to anthropomorphize without meaning to. Still, when Dali fell ill, Mrok stayed by her side the whole time, and Dali completely accepted his presence.

Then Dali fell ill We had to focus on her, but we couldn’t abandon Mrok’s training — he’s an ACD, and leaving him without structure would end badly. We did our best, though Zoe and Tru got less attention.

Mrok learned to lie down or quietly move away whenever Dali appeared on the floor. At the end of her life, she weighed ten times less than he did — yet he was careful and gentle, helping us give her comfort in her last days.

Little Mrok was fascinated by the much calmer cats — he kept trying to make contact in his own way. In the bathroom, Dali and Zoe watch the curious youngster closely, even though he’s already almost twice their size.

When Dali passed away, Mrok seemed lost — he couldn’t find the little cat our attention had been focused on, the one he had learned to keep a respectful distance from, the small yet strong-minded cat, so much like himself, who had taught him how to live in a family where cats always came first.

It’s not easy. But we’re starting a new chapter. Mrok, Tru, and Zoe — that’s our family now. You’ll surely hear more about them 😊.

Things started to truly settle between the cats and Mrok after about 12 months of steady socialization work. It’s a process that never really ends — it’s always worth carefully watching both sides.

Introducing a Dog to Resident Cats — In Short

Remember: the comfort of your cats is always the top priority. Even if the puppy looks small, lost, and in need of care, don’t focus all your attention on him. Spend more time with your cats — they need to feel safe and certain that nothing in their world is being taken away.

1. Plan ahead. Give the process time and, if needed, ask a behaviorist for guidance. Never drop a puppy straight into the cats’ space.

2. Start small. Let the puppy live in one room at first and slowly discover the rest of the home.

3. Let the cats observe. Use a glass door or a safe barrier so they can see and smell him without direct contact.

4. Short, calm meetings. Bring the puppy into the cats’ territory for brief moments so they can get used to his scent and movement. Over time, curiosity will replace fear.

5. Puppies are often easier. A young dog may be less of a threat than a new cat — and cats usually notice that quickly.
   

Give everyone time and comfort. Don’t rush. A calm start means years of peaceful, shared life. Stay relaxed — animals feel it more than you think.

Heated floor — Tru and Mrok enjoying their favorite warm spot together.

A Few More Things Worth Remembering

Before we brought Mrok home, we already knew our cats inside out — their health, their temperaments, and the small signs that showed when they felt tense or relaxed. For years we had worked with a behaviorist, helping them lower everyday stress, long before Mrok ever appeared in our plans. We also knew a lot about him — his background, his reactions, and what helped him stay calm. So when the moment finally came, it wasn’t a random experiment. It was the next step in something we’d been preparing for a long time.

Still, there isn’t one perfect way to do this. Each home, each cat, and each dog are different. What worked for us might not work the

It’s an interesting moment — almost two-year-old Mrok stops right in front of the glass barrier, now open, while on the other side sits Tru.  Exactly the same way Tru once watched Mrok through the glass more than a year earlier, when he was just a puppy.

Before any introduction, it helps to make sure both animals are healthy and emotionally stable. A cat that trusts its surroundings and a dog that can control its emotions will adapt much faster to new situations. And if it’s a puppy or a kitten joining your home, it’s up to you to guide those emotions from the very beginning.

Learning about their history — whether there were past traumas, strong prey drive, or fear of strangers — can save everyone a lot of stress later.

Theory: provide separate feeding spots — practice: Tru and Mrok testing how a licking mat works, together.  What to do? Don’t interfere — just let them be :)

Give both animals their own safe zones: a calm spot for the dog, high places and quiet corners for the cats. Feed them separately and protect their comfort around food, toys, and resting places. During first meetings, keep things short and calm — a leash, gate, or transparent barrier can prevent mistakes. Always reward quiet curiosity rather than excitement. Short, relaxed sessions work better than long, tense ones.

If you feel tension rising, don’t wait for it to explode. Talking to a behaviorist early — even just for guidance — can make a huge difference.

Tru and Mrok on the balcony — both love watching the street, both love catching flies, and simply, both enjoy each other’s company.

And here we want to say a heartfelt thank you to Magdalena Nykiel (zooedukacja.pl) — one of the best feline behaviorists we know, a true friend to us and our cats. She was the one who taught us the first words of the feline language — and later, how to hold a real conversation in it. Her guidance has shaped the way we understand and live with our cats every single day.

In the end, patience, calm observation, and respect for every animal in the house matter most. There’s no single formula — only your own path, shaped by understanding, time, and quiet attention.

One of our last photos together — Mrok watching over sick Dali, with Tru and Zoe above.

We don’t write much about our cats on Paws to Peaks. The truth is, more than 15 years ago we started another blog — a place our friends soon joined. It’s called Koty Mamroty.

That’s where we met the wonderful Magda — our feline behaviorist — and the other Magda, our friend and the cats’ trusted caretaker when we travel. And interestingly, it was she who first suggested where Mrok would come from. And yes… that’s also where we met Tru, whose real name is Tippi :)

There we share everything we’ve learned about cats — though you’ll also find plenty about their dog friend, Mrok.

Want to take a look? Here’s the door :)